What’s the one stereotypical background of a romantic summer camp film? Away from the bright cities and light pollution, the night skies of Peru, MA, are dotted with stars. From mid-July to August 23rd a brilliant meteor shower–which peaked from August 12th-13th and fell on the first week of WriCampia—painted the sky.
After every workshop presented their quest-themed world in the Field House, I was stuck on what to do.
Two friends and I ended up laying out a blanket in an open stretch of grass, near the Gaga pit, in an attempt to stargaze. I never expected that I would see my first meteor shower but others knew it was upon us.
This beautiful natural phenomenon is a sight I’ll never forget. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one. As lower camper Willow puts it, “It was really pretty. I love meteor showers,” such as the ones she’s seen before in Delaware during family visits. And as middle camper Marion Wang agrees, “It was magical, kind of like a one-time life experience you usually can’t see.” Not everyone stopped and stared; those who did described a once-faraway fantasy become reality. With the right amount of research and space, you’ll get to share the dream. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best and brightest meteor showers of the year. According to CBS news, there have been years when as many as 100 meteors per hour were clearly visible. The show peaked during Tuesday night, where weather conditions were nearly ideal.
Unfortunately, from the WriCampia grounds, the Wednesday night sky was nearly empty of stars because of the heavy fog combined with the bright moonlight. As Robert Lunsford with the American Meteor Society writes, “The strength of each Perseid display varies year to year, mainly due to lunar conditions.”
If you’re hoping to catch a meteor shower, here are a few ways to increase your chances of maximum viewing: Find an area with the least obstructions (trees or buildings) and as wide open a view of the sky as possible. It should be a dark location away from any artificial light. At WriCampia, there are plenty of open grass locations to stargaze. So the next time there’s a meteor shower at camp, grab a flashlight and a friend, and make sure to tell your counselors before you head outside to catch some shining fireballs that blaze across the night sky. ✎
